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| I have a 20" tall urn shaped planter that is 13" in idameter at its widest part but only has an opening 8" in diameter.
I know that it will make a very handsome addition to my patio, but I don't know how to get there! I wondered if elephant ears would do well - I have all varieties of sun and shade, and 2 elephant ear bulbs (no idea what kind). Would they be too large for the opening? Should I leave the urn with no hole at the bottom or drill a hole for drainage? I just realized this post is actually 2 questions: 1. what to put in the urn and whether to add a hole
Thanks for any help. Kat |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I can't answer your question about elephant ears; I've never grown them. But I do know nothing will grow well in a container without drainage holes. |
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- Posted by carolinakate 7b (My Page) on Sun, Apr 29, 12 at 9:30
| Thanks for answering. I'm not sure but I thought elephant ears were the same as taro and that they grow in water. That's why I wondered if it would be better to not drain them. |
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| There are a couple different plants called elephant's ears, and one is a bog plant. But I think the water it needs to sit in must be fresh. In an urn without drainage holes it would quickly become stagnant. I found a long and interesting discussion of both kinds in the bog forum that you might like to read. |
Here is a link that might be useful: How do I plant elephant's ear?
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| Kat I think that elephant ear (at least one I grew few yrs. ago) may be too large for 8" opening. The leaves were over 2feet long. Really beautiful; I had it in large pot, diam. was 16". I watered it generously daily, and it just grew. But pot did have drainage hole. At the end of the season I collected the corm; it actually had "baby corms", so I had more for the next season. I just stored them for the winter(like canna or dahlias). Rina |
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- Posted by carolinakate NC 7b (My Page) on Tue, May 8, 12 at 18:47
| Thanks Ohiofern and Rina! I have planted my EEs in a large pot with a wide opening and am keeping it wet. I can't wait to see what kind they are. As for the urn, it is like the classic olive oil urn. I will try to find an ornamental grass for it. Kat |
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| Kat maybe you can post photos when your EE grows... The urns should be nice with just about anything. My daughter just planted hers with a Ghost fern, I really like it (it's greyish, and grows 'upright'). Rina |
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| I avoid the urn shape for most plants. EE will quickly fill the area with roots that you will not be able to get out of the urn without a lot of work cutting them all up into small pieces. I look for a tapered container that does not restrict later removal. Al |
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- Posted by carolinakate NC 7b (My Page) on Wed, May 23, 12 at 23:54
| The urn -- complete with drainage holes -- now holds Solomon's seal, which I had on hand, and Virginia creeper, which is about to come out and be replaced with duckfoot coleus as soon as I can get some. Thanks for the ideas Rina. I'll post photos of the EEs when they get a little bigger so someone can tell me what they are. Al, I understand why you don't use the urn shape. To help, I left more inches than usual above the soil, so that the soil is only a little higher than the widest part. Then, at least I will be able to reach in to divide the plants, I hope. kat |
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| kat hope to see photos, that should look nice (coleus is nice in pots/urns). |
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| kat hope to see photos, that should look nice (coleus is nice in pots/urns). |
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